NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Saturday, March 8:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Buffalo Sabres at Florida Panthers (-265, 5.5)
6 p.m. ET
Two teams that are going in opposite directions. The Panthers are in a dogfight for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, while the Sabres sit 29th overall and will miss the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season. Florida has won five straight, outscoring their opponents 16-5 (including two shutouts). The Sabres have lost five straight and have given up four or more goals in each defeat. Do you see where I am going with this game? If not, Florida has scored four or more goals in 30 of their 38 victories this season (79%). Buffalo has surrendered four or more goals in 26 of their 37 losses (70%).
A couple of player props for me in this game that are on my bingo card. The Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad has an assist in five consecutive games. Sam Bennett has nine points in nine games against his former team, including three goals in four games against goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (UPL). The Panthers have scored four goals or more in two of the four games that they have face Pekka Luukkonen.
I am also going to take a stab at the first period Over 1.5 goals. Sabres road games have gone over the first period total in 19 of 28 games this season and in UPL’s last four games away from home.
NHL Predictions: Florida TT Over 3.5 (-145) – 1.5 units
1st period Over 1.5 (-140) – 1 unit
Sam Bennett ATG (+175) – ¼ unit
Aaron Ekblad Over ½ assist (+120) – ¼ unit
Toronto Maple Leafs at Colorado Avalanche (-150, 6.5)
7 p.m. ET
It will be the opener of the Hockey Night in Canada doubleheader (seen nationally in the USA on NHL Network), and what a game we have featuring stars of the game on both sides of the ice. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner for the Maple Leafs and Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar for the Avalanche. Both these teams upgraded their rosters leading up to and on trade deadline day yesterday. While the Avalanche are likely destined to finish in third place in the Central Division, the Maple Leafs have their sights set on finishing in the top spot in the Atlantic Division and avoid a first-round matchup against one of the two Florida teams.
If you’re a history buff, you might be aware that the last 14 meetings between these two teams in Denver have gone Over the total. Toronto has won six of the last eight meetings in the Mile-High City. Five of the last six Leafs road games have also gone Over the total (7,11,5,9,7). The “GIFT” has cashed in 18 of the last 22 Toronto road games and 22 of their last 28 overall. The Maple Leafs William Nylander has three goals in four games against Avalanche starting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. Auston Matthews has 10 goals in 14 games versus the Avs. Cale Makar has had two or more points in four of his last 8 games.
NHL Predictions: Leafs/Avs Over 6.5 (-102) – 1.5 units
Leafs ML (+130) – ½ unit
GIFT/Yes (-165) -1 unit
William Nylander ATG (+190) – ¼ unit
Auston Matthews ATG (+120) – ¼ unit
Cale Makar Over 1.5 pts (+235) – ¼ unit
Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames (-140, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
This is the Flames’ first home game after a six-game road trip that saw them go (2-2-2) and finished with a 3-2 overtime loss at Dallas. Montreal is also coming off a 3-2 OT loss at Edmonton on Thursday. The Under is 22-9 for Calgary following a loss, but with Jakub Dobes starting for Montreal, I have my concerns with the Under. In his last three starts, the combined goals were 6, 8 and 9 goals. I usually prefer to stay away from teams like Calgary after an extended road trip, but the Flames have come away with victories following their two previous four-game road trips.
The draw has cashed in three of the last four Montreal games and two of the last three Flames games.
NHL Predictions: Regulation Draw +340 – ¼ unit
Cole Caufield ATG (+180) – ¼ unit
Lane Hutson assist (+115) – ¼ unit
Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators (-275, 6.5)
8 p.m. ET
I realize this is back-to-back games for the Blackhawks who have just three wins in nine games in this spot, but this is way too big a price on Nashville. What I do like even more is the Chicago team total Over 2.5 goals. Nashville has given up three or more goals in 15 of their last 17 games. The Blackhawks have scored three or more goals in seven of their last 10 games.
A couple of player props that have caught my eye for today. Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly has three goals in six games versus Chicago goalie Arvid Soderblom, and with Luke Evangelista getting bumped up to the top line, his assist prop has value. The Hawks’ Connor Bedard scored the overtime winner last night and has three goals in three games this season against Nashville.
NHL Predictions: Chicago TT Over 2.5 (-110) – 1unit
Connor Bedard ATG (+260) – ¼ unit
Ryan O’Reilly ATG (+185) – ¼ unit
Luke Evangelista Over ½ assist (+240) – ¼ unit
St. Louis Blues at Los Angeles Kings (-200, 5.5)
8 p.m. ET
This is the third time in eight days that these two teams will battle, with the Blues winning the two previous meetings. One wager for now, that I am on is the first period Over 1.5 goals. The Blues have cashed this prop in six straight games and nine of their last 10, while the Kings have had two goals or more scored in the opening 20 minutes in four straight and five of their last seven.
I will likely have some player props but I am waiting for goalie confirmations. I will post those later today.
NHL Predictions: 1st Period Over 1.5 (-115) -1 unit
Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers (-115, 6.5)
10 p.m. ET
What a great way to cap off the night with the debut of Mikko Rantanen and the Dallas Stars taking on the Edmonton Oilers. Both teams are coming off 3-2 overtime victories. For Edmonton it was just their second win in their past eight games. The Oilers seek their first two-game win streak in just over a month. Conversely, Dallas has won four straight and seven of their last eight games as they still have their sights set on top spot in the Central Division. I like Dallas in this game tonight, and I lean to the Over. Seven of the last nine Stars games have had seven or more goals. Three of the last four regular-season meetings in Edmonton between these two teams have had a combined seven goals.
When it comes to prop plays, it’s all Dallas props for now. Roope Hintz has five goals in five games versus Oilers’ starting goalie Stuart Skinner. Wyatt Johnston has goals in four straight. Jason Robertson has two or more points in five of his last six games. Thomas Harley has at least two points in three of his last four games.
NHL Predictions: Dallas Stars ML (-105) – 1 unit
Stars/Oilers Over 6.5 (-115) – 1unit
Stars TT Over 3.5 (+115) – ½ unit
Mikko Rantanen Over 2.5 SOG (-104) -1 unit
Wyatt Johnston ATG (+210) – ¼ unit
Roope Hintz Over 1.5 points (+390) – ¼ unit
Jason Robertson Over 1.5 points (+290) -1/4 unit
Thomas Harley Over 1.5 assists (+750) – ¼ unit
